Page 44 of Revenge (Corrupt Empire 3)

I smiled and went back to my food, hoping this conversation was over. I had come here to talk about our engagement and subsequent wedding plans but that didn’t mean I had to like it. And I had another job to do. When the dishes for the main course were cleared away, I excused myself to the bathroom.

Hurrying along the corridor when I got out of the dining room, I headed towards Frazier’s office, keeping my eyes peeled for any of the staff. Thankfully they were too busy preparing dessert so the coast was clear. I slipped in and shut the door behind me. I didn’t bother turning the light on as I crept towards his computer. It was on, but password protected. Pulling out the little memory stick Aiden had given me a couple of days ago, I plugged it in. He’d taught me how to hack into it. When I got through the password and it brought up the main screen, I ran another program he’d put on there. It would search all the files for me and download any relevant ones.

I breathed a short sigh of relief when I saw it was working, but too many minutes had gone by. I left it running as I slipped out and walked towards the bathroom. Once inside, I took several deep breaths. I couldn’t stay here long, but I checked my phone. Aiden still hadn’t responded to me. I sent him another message.

ME: Going okay, got to the PC but waiting for it to download.

No response. He hadn’t looked at his phone at all. I was beginning to worry. Why hadn’t he checked his messages? Was he that pissed off with me? Surely, he’d want to know I was okay. Fuck. What was going on with him?

Aiden might not have responded, but John had sent me a message. When I opened it, my heart tightened uncomfortably in my chest.

JOHN: Can’t get hold of Aiden. Going over to check on him.

ME: Okay. Let me know if you find him please.

I splashed my face with water, flushed the toilet and walked out, almost barrelling straight into Tristan.

“I was just coming to look for you, dessert is about to be served.”

His eyes were narrowed as I stared up into his hateful face.

“Right, uh… let’s go then.”

I didn’t look towards Frazier’s office. I didn’t have time to go back in there. Not now Tristan was here. I had to hope the program would finish downloading all the files and I could get to it later.

He planted his hand on my lower back again. I glared at him.

“I’d rather you didn’t touch me.”

“Get used to it, Avery.”

His hand moved lower, brushing over the top of my behind. I tensed, shifting out of his grasp. The revulsion I felt at having him touch me over my clothes would be nothing compared to him actually touching my skin.

“You can threaten me all you want. You and I both know this marriage is a sham. I’m not letting you feel me up.”

He grabbed me by the wrist, stopping me in my tracks before he shoved me against the wall. Caging me in with one hand up by my head, his eyes roamed down my body.

“I’ll feel you up all I fucking want. You’re going to be mine. So if I want to touch you, I will.”

His other hand ran down my bare arm. I shoved him away from me.

“Get fucked, Tristan.”

I walked away back into the dining room. I heard his footsteps behind me, but I ignored him.

“There you two are,” Frazier said.

I took my seat, finding dessert of a chocolate fondant with raspberry sorbet had already been served. Tristan threw himself back down in his own seat, scowling at me over the table. Frazier eyed us both. I started on my dessert, not wanting to talk about what happened in the corridor.

One of Frazier’s staff came into the room and leant down to say something to him which I couldn’t quite hear. He nodded at them with a gleam in his eye. Something about it set me on edge. Tristan seemed nonplussed by the exchange, too busy scowling at his plate. I’d pissed him off. Who knew what type of shit he was plotting? Honestly, I was surprised nothing untoward had really happened to me yet. What the fuck did they have planned?

“So, Avery, we have much to discuss. Have you finished?” Frazier said.

I’d cleared my plate without noticing.

“Um, yes.”

“Shall we retire to the drawing room?”

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